Low-quad-operating mechanism for typographic molds



Oct. 7 1924. 1,513,094

F. H. PIERPONT LOW QUAD OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIC MOLDS FiledFeb. 8 1922 r 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

I'NVENTOR.

b 11 an film a-? 2f% HIS ATTORNEY? Oct 7, 1924. 1,511,094

F. H. PIERPONT LOW QUAD OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIC MOLDS FiledFeb. 3, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "fl/5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 7, 1924,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HINMAN PIERPONT, O1? SALFORDS, HOBLEY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LANS-TON MONOTYPE MACHINE COIiIPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

LOW-Q'UAD-OPER-ATING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPI-IIC MOLIDS.

Application filed February 8, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HINMAN PIER- roN'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at S-alfords, Horley, in the county ofSurrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLow-Quad- Operating Mechanisms for Typographic Molds; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to type casting or type casting and composingmachines and particularly to such machines equipped with low quad moldsand operating mechanism therefor, in which the mold is provided with asplit blade comprising an upper or cutoff blade or section and a lower,main blade or section, so that such mold is capable of producing normalor full-height type bodies and also low quads or spaces short of fullheight.

The mold blade operating mechanism in commercial machines of this kindis usually controlled by mechanism operatively connected with the matrixclamping mechanism of the machine, the relativemovements of the main andsupplemental blades to produce short type bodies being brought about bythe presentation over the mold of suitably shaped matrices which producea variation in the travel of the matrix clamping mechanism as describedfor example in United StatesLettersPatentNo.828,450,No.1,061,559 and No.1,198,420. In these patents the matrix for operating the low quadmechanism is of such form as to lack the deep conehole or cavity presentin matrices for full type high bodies. In certain constructions, as forexample, those shown in the second and third patents above mentioned,the main and cut-off blades are not coupled together but are moved byseparate or independent mechanism and the pressure acting to hold themain and cut-off blades back to dimension the mold for full-height ornormal type bodies is different from that which acts on the main bladewhen it alone is moved back Serial No. 535,016.

to dimension the mold for low type bodies, the cut-off blade beingmeanwhile retained in its forward position to close the top of the moldcavity.

Then full height bodies are being produced, both blades are moved backto dimension the mold by their respective operating mechanisms and as inthis position the rear end of the cut-off blade of the mold buttsagainst a shoulder or olfset on the main blade, as shown, for example,in the first patent above mentioned, the force acting to hold. thediminishing blades in open, dimensioning position is the combined forceexerted by the two operating mechanisms.

When low quads or spaces are being cast, the cut-off blade is heldforward and the main blade forced back by its operating mechanism todimension the mold, so that the force acting on the dimensioning bladeis only that exerted by its own operating mechanism.

Under these circumstances there is a tendency for the mold to be setwisedimensioned slightly less for lowbodies than for high bodies of the sameset dimension. It will be understood that the mold blade dimensioningpressure acts against an abutment backed by a plurality of wedges andnot against an absolutely unyielding buffer: the difference in pressureabove referred to has the effect, therefore, to produce under commercialoperating conditions variations in the set dimensions of high and lowbodies and these variations, though extremely ininute in. any singleinstance, have a tendency to produce measurable variations in therelative lengths of lines of type and thus interfere with the productionof properly justified matter.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide aconstruction including an equalizing device or mechanism by which theforce or pressure acting on the mold blade to dimension the mold is thesame whether high or low type bodies are being produced.

Referring to the accompanying drawldig. 1 is a side elevation showingthe present invention applied to or embodied in a mold and a matrixcentering and clamping mechanism of a well known form of type castingand composing machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mold and the equalizing mechanism of thepresent invention.

:Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1 showing the partsin po sition for dimensioning the mold for producing low quads orspaces.

Fig. l is'an elevation of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, theparts being in position for dimensioning the mold for full height typebodies, and p Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of a modified construction ofthe equalizing mechanism of the present ilwel'lti'oii.

The invention will be described herein as applied to mold dimensioningmechanism of the kind shown and described in United. States LettersPatent 1,198,420, above mentioned, and in connection. with atype-casting and composing machine such as is well known as manufacturedby Lanston Monotyp'e Machine Company and is generally shown anddescribed in United. States Letter's Patent 625,998. It is thereforedeemed sufficient for the understanding of the present invention todesignate the parts of the mechanisms of the earlier inventions mostintimately connected with or cooperating with the mechanism of thepresent invention; for example, the mold A; the matrix case B; theeros's head C to which the matrix case and its supporting frame arecoupledythe matrix case lever D; the matrix centering pin E; the mainactuating or centering pin lever F, coupled by a link F with the matrixcase lever D, and by a head E and springE with the centering pin E; therod or slide G and its operating cam lever G and spring G reciprocatingthe main mold blade H against a variably positioned step, all theseparts being substantially as described in United States Letters Patent625,998. As to parts shown in United States Letters Patent 1,193,420,men tion may be made of the lever K for operating the cut-off orsupplemental blade H; said lever K being pivotally connected at one endto the centering pin lever F and being forced down by said lever Fthrough the spring coupling L; the interponent M carried by the lever Kso as to be capable vof horizontal movement on its pivotal connection atM with the lever K, and being normally held in one horizontal positionby the spring M?; the projection N on the head N carriedby the centeringpin E to control the position of the interponent M in a well knownmanner so as to operate one or the other of the two power actuatedmembers 0, O; the lever P acted upon by the members 0, O and pivoted tothe mold A to operate the upper or out--off mold blade H.

As hereinbefore stated, full height type matrices have cavities orcone-holes in their upper ends for the reception of the centering pin Eand when in connection with the patented mechanism referred to such amatrix is presented under the centering pin the latter travels down toits full extent and therefore the projection N does not operate theinterponent if; so the latter is maintained by its spring M in aposition over the member or actuator 0 (Fig. 4). As the arm K descendspressure is applied to the actuator O and operates the cutoff bladeoperating lever P to withdraw the cutoff blade H until the rear end ofthe latter engages a shoulder on the main blade H which has beenretracted by the cam operated lever G acting on the power actuatedmember or rod Gr-throngh the spring WVhen both blades are thus retractedto dimension the mold the force acting to hold them retracted while afull height type is being cast is the force exerted by the rod G addedtothat exerted by the lever P.

The low quad or space matrices, on the other.

hand, have no cavity or bone hole to receive the centering pin so that.when such a matriX is presented under the pin E, the travel of thelatter is interruptedand the projection N acts .on the interponent M toposition. it over the member or actuator 0. TV hen the lever F descends,the actuator 0 acts on the lever P to move the cut-off blade H forwardand retain it in its forward position, the main blade H is retracted, asin the case for full height type bodies, but is maintained in itsretracted positien only by the force ekerted by the rod Ch Thus it willbe seen that the force exerted in dimensioning the mold differs asbetween high and low type bodies of the. same setwise dimension; thisresults in sli htly dif ferent type dimension, as previously eX-plained, and tends toward inaccuracies in justification.

The present invention contemplates a con struction comprising anequalizing mechanism whereby not only in making type high bodiesincluding t-ype-shonlclerhigl1 bodies but also in making low bodies,both the force exerted through the rod G and that exerted through thelever P act to hold the blades retracted. In the latter case, after thecut-elf blade has been positioned to close the upper portion of themold, the force exerted by its operating mechanism acts through saidequalizing mechanism to add itself to the force exerted by the mainblade operating mechanism th hold said main blade retracted; thus ineither low or high body casting the forces acting upon the main blade todimension the mold. are the same. i

The above mentioned equalizing mechanism will now be described. Thelever P is pivotally supported on a pressure equalizing lever Q at R,and the lever Q is pivoted at S on the mold body in the constructionshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. One endof the lever P is embraced bythe lower ends of the actuators O, 0 while the other end enters anopening in the cut-off blade. The lever P has an opening T through whichthe pivot S of the lever Q passes, the opening T being large so that thelever P can act without being interfered with by the pivot S. The freeend U of the lever Q, rests in the path of movement of the main bladeoperating rod G and the latter is connected to the main mold blade bythe pin J (Fig. 2).

hen the blades are moved forward to eject a type body from the castingcavity of the mold the forward end G of the rod G is a little distanceaway from the free end U of the lever Q. The lever Q has a lat-- erallyextending shelf Q to engage as shown in Fig. 5 with a hump P on thelever P.

Then a full height type body is to be cast, the centering pin E travelsits full or nor- ,mal distance and the interponent M is in position overthe actuator O as shown in Fig. 4;. As the matrix case lever F descends,the lever K is forced down carrying with it the interponent M andcausing the actuator O to turn on its pivot V and operate the lever P.In this case the lever P turns on its pivot R until its hump P strikesthe shelf Q of the lever Q; or the construction may be such that at thispoint the edge of the opening T bears on the pivot S of the lever Q.Thereafter with the levers at their least angular separation both thelever P and the lever Q, turn on the pivot S so that the lever P movesthe cut-off blade H backward to dimension the mold. Meantime the mainmold blade H has been moved back against its stop by the rod G. Asalready stated, when the cut-off blade H has been moved back its rearend butts against a shoulder on the main blade H; in this retractedposition the blades have their ends in alinement and the pressureexerted on the lever P and by it to the mold blade H is added to thepressure exerted by the rod G.

\Vhen a low quad or space is to be cast the interponent M, as abovestated, is moved over the actuator O as shown in Fig. 8. As the lever Fdescends, the actuator O is turned on its pivot V and the lever P isoperated in a direction reverse to that for high type. The lever P turnsfirst on its end which engages the blade H thus causing the lever Q toturn on its pivot S forcing the free end U of the lever Q, against theforward end G of the rod Gr; thus the pressure applied to the lever P isdistributed to the levers P and Q, causing them to swing open, thereverse pressure of the lever Q. on the levers to a bracket such as Wwhich can be 7 screwed, riveted or otherwise fastened to the mold body,as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the levers in this construction being thesame in function but having slightly ditterent shape, as shown, tofacilitate the application of the device to mechanism already incommercial use.

I claim 1. The combination with a typographic mold comprising main andcut-off blades, and separate mechanisms for operating these blades, ofan equalizing device between the main and cut-off blades whereby thepressure acting on the main blade to dimension the mold is substantiallythe same when a low quad or space is being cast as when a full heighttype body is being cast.

2. The combination with a. typographic mold comprising a main and acut-off blade, of separate mechanisms for operating each blade, one ofsaid mechanisms: provided with an equalizing device acting on the bladeoperated by the other of said mechanisms whereby the force holding thecut-off blade in its forward, position acts to help hold the main bladein its retracted position.

3. The combination with a. typographic mold comprising main and cut-ofiblades, of a power actuated member for retracting the main blade, aseparate power actu ate-d member for operating the cut-off blade, apressure equalizing lever pivoted to a stationary support and a cut-offblade operating lever pivoted to the pressure equalizing lever.

A. The combination with a low-quad mold provided with main and. cutoffblades, of means for retracting the main blade, means separate from.said first named means for advancing said cut-off blade, whereby saidmold is adjusted for casting a low quad, and an equalizing deviceconnected with said cut-off blade advancing means and applying to themain blade retracting means an assisting force substantially equal tothe force exerted to advance the cut-off blade.

5. The combination with a low quad mold provided with main and cut-offblades, of separate, power-actuated members for operating each blade andan equalizing device interposed. between said members, whereby in theposition of the blades for casting a 10W quad, said device applies tothe 11min blade an assisting fdrce to maintain it retracted which forceis substantiallyequal to that applied to maintain the but-0E blade 5a'dvz mced. I Y

6. The combination with a 10W quad mold v I v prm'idd with inhin andGut-01f blades ind FRANK HINMAN PIERPONT.

actuating means therfor "of ni e'ans {literposed vbehvn' the bl z'l'desfor distributing act'uixt'ing pofwer in opposite ch-factions to advziiic'e One blade and retract. the other with ,slf1l1flhmtia11y equalpressure.

